The first representative Pliocene assemblages of passerine birds in Asia (Northern Mongolia and Russian Transbaikalia)

Passerine birds from two late Pliocene localities, Shaamar in northern Mongolia and Beregovaya in Transbaikalia (East Russia), represent the first known Neogene fossil assemblages of perching birds from Asia. A total of 11 families and 15 taxa are recognized, including a new genus and species of bunting, Pliocalcarius orkhonensis, apparently related to the Longspurs, and new species within the genera Hirundo and Rhodospiza, which are described. The avifauna is composed of open land and bush dwellers; it contains a few arid species, representing the oldest finds of the corresponding genera or lineages. This may indicate that the living Asian arid avian complex originated in Central Asia in the Neogene. Several genera (Rhodospiza, Paradoxornis) are documented in this paper for the first time in pre-Pleistocene deposits. Report of Calcarius is the first pre-Holocene evidence of the occurrence of this genus in Asia, which together with the remains of Synaptomys lemmings at Shaamar, illustrates faunal interchanges between North America and Asia in the Pliocene.     

A new species of Castanopsis (Fagaceae) from the upper Pliocene of West Yunnan,China and its biogeographical implications

Two fossil leaves identified as Castanopsis presclerophylla n. sp. collected from a diatomite bed in the upper Pliocene (3.3–2.8 Ma) in Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, Southwest China, are characterized by elliptic laminar shapes with acuminate apex, convex base, simple trichome bases and cyclocytic stomata. The cuticles of extant leaves from six selected Castanopsis species that are similar to the Pliocene fossil leaves in laminar shape were examined in detail for the comparison. Based on the analysis of leaf architecture and cuticular characteristics, the present fossil leaves most closely resemble the extant leaves of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindl.) Schott., which prefers a subtropical climate. The published fossil records of Castanopsis also indicate that it was once widely distributed in North America, Europe and Asia before the Pliocene, and then rapidly retreated to the East and Southeast Asia as a result of the Pleistocene glaciation.     

A Review of the Fossil Record of the Genus Itea (Iteaceae, Saxifragales) with Comments on its Historical Biogeography

Itea is a genus of about 20 species of trees and shrubs that are today native to southeastern North America, eastern Asia, and eastern Africa. In this paper, I review the fossil record of Itea, which is based on four types of fossils: diporate, psilate pollen attributed to Itea or the dispersed pollen genus Iteapollis; carpofossils representing fruits and seeds attributed to Itea europaea; flowers preserved in amber and assigned to Adenanthemum iteoides; and leaf impressions attributed to Itea. The distributions of these fossils indicate that Itea was present in western North America from the early Eocene to Miocene, in eastern North America beginning no later than the early Miocene, and in western Eurasia from the late Eocene to Pliocene. Only one datapoint is known from eastern Asia; it is early Miocene in age. Based on the fossil record, it can be inferred that Itea crossed between continents over both the Bering Land Bridge and North American Land Bridge, and that it reached Africa from Europe via Anatolia. Thus, it is predicted that the sole extant North American species, I. virginica, may be most closely related to the sole extant African species, I. rhamnoides. The potential application of Itea fossils to calibrating phylogenetic trees generated from molecular sequence data is also discussed.     

Winged Fruits of Deviacer in the Oligocene from the Ningming Basin in Guangxi,South China

Deviacer guangxiensis Chen & Manchester sp. nov. is described based on asymmetric samaras from the Oligocene Ningming Formation in Guangxi, South China, representing the first documentation of Deviacer fossils in Asia. The Oligocene species, with relatively large fruits, represents the youngest record of the genus so far known; all other records are from the Paleocene and Eocene, or late Eocene—early Oligocene in western North America and Europe. It indicates that the extinct genus, Deviacer, was widely distributed in the northern hemisphere during the Paleogene.     

The first species of Hapalodectes (Mesonychia,Mammalia) from the middle Paleocene of China (Qianshan Basin,Anhui Province) sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids

A lower jaw of the mesonychian Hapalodectes is reported from Nongshanian sediments (Upper Doumu Formation; middle Paleocene) of the Qianshan Basin (Anhui Province, China). The fragmentary mandible is only the third specimen of Hapalodectidae discovered in Paleocene deposits, and the first in south east China; it is moreover the oldest, the two other specimens having been found in Gashatan (late Paleocene) localities. The premolars and molars of the new fossil are morphologically similar to Hapalodectes dux (late Paleocene of Mongolia), which has been considered to be the most primitive hapalodectid, but their relative proportions recall H. paleocenus and the Eocene Hapalodectes species. As a result, the fossil described herein appears to be different from the other previously described species of Hapalodectes in being morphologically intermediate between H. dux and the other Hapalodectes species, notably the Bumbanian Hapalodectes hetangensis and H. huanghaiensis from China; it is thus identified as a new species, Hapalodectes lopatini (possibly a male individual). Its discovery is important because it sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids. The presence of one primitive hapalodectid in Mongolia previously suggested the Mongolian Plateau as the centre of origination of this carnivorous family, but the discovery of H. lopatini in older sediments from south‐east China challenges this hypothesis. In the earliest Eocene, Hapalodectes dispersed from Asia to North America; this event being part of the ‘East of Eden’ dispersals. This event resulted in the geographical separation of two distinct Hapalodectes groups, in North America and south‐eastern China respectively.     

The Phytogeography of the extinct angiosperm Nordenskioeldia (Trochodendraceae) and its response to climate changes

Elucidating the spatio-temporal distributions of terrestrial plants is a key for interpreting the origin of distribution patterns and the tempo of intercontinental disjunction. Nordenskioeldia was distributed in eastern Asia and North America from the Late Cretaceous to the Miocene. Its fossil record provides important information on former patterns of disjunction and dispersal in the Northern Hemisphere. New specimens from the Paleocene of China allow us to further extend the history of the group and provide the impetus to review its distribution in space and time. The comparative morphological survey on fossil Nordenskioeldia found in the Paleocene sediments in both eastern Asia and North America confirms that they belonged to the same morpho-species, which indicates a close floristic continuity between both continents due to land connection available during that time. The spatio-temporal distributions of Nordenskioeldia indicate that the taxon probably expanded eastward from eastern Asia into North America by the end of Early/Middle Maastrichtian, subsequently colonized Greenland, northeastern North America and Spitsbergen in the Early Paleocene, and finally became extinct in the Miocene. The fluctuations in its northern limits took place in response to climate changes: warming from the Paleocene to the Eocene, cooling during the Eocene–Oligocene and amelioration during the Late Oligocene–Mid-Miocene.     

椴树属的地理分布

椴树属Tilia是椴树科一个形态特殊且唯一的北温带分布属,分布于亚洲、欧洲和北美,构成典型的北温带分布格局,三个分离的分布区之间缺乏共有种。本文对各分布区的种类进行重新评价,确认全属25种。其中东亚17种,占68％,包含了现存种类各个演化阶段的类群,是现代分布中心;欧洲-西西伯利亚6种,属于木果组及壳果组;北美2种,均为木果组成员。化石分布与现代地理分布格局基本相似,但分布纬度较现代分布偏北,达到北纬80°附近,且还出现于现今无椴树分布的亚洲大陆腹地,北美西部椴树至第三纪末完全绝迹,而东部到第四纪才有化石记录。根据现代地理分布,结合化石证据、地质历史、气候变迁及形态演化推测,椴树属可能在白垩纪晚期起源于中国东部亚热带山地,至少到始新世之前已散布至欧洲和北美西部。渐新世之后的全球降温和更新世大冰期对椴树属现代地理分布格局的形成起着至关重要的作用。     

Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov. (Corticiales), an amphi-Beringian species and revision of the occurrence of Vuilleminia comedens in North America

Vuilleminia is a basidiomycete genus the species of which have resupinate, corticioid fruiting bodies. It is apparently a North Hemisphere genus, and the majority of its species are distributed in Europe and western Asia. In North America, there are two reports of Vuilleminia comedens. Detailed study of North American specimens and comparisons with additional collections led to the conclusion that they belong to a new lineage named Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov., whose distribution extends from western North America to East Asia, Siberia, and Finland. The species is recognized by the decorticating fruiting bodies with preference for species of Betulaceae in the boreal zone, relatively small allantoid basidiospores, and little-developed cystidia with apical appendix.     

Phylogenomics,biogeography, and evolution of morphology and ecological niche of the eastern Asian–eastern North American Nyssa (Nyssaceae)

Nyssa (Nyssaceae, Cornales) represents a classical example of the well‐known eastern Asian–eastern North American floristic disjunction. The genus consists of three species in eastern Asia, four species in eastern North America, and one species in Central America. Species of the genus are ecologically important trees in eastern North American and eastern Asian forests. The distribution of living species and a rich fossil record of the genus make it an excellent model for understanding the origin and evolution of the eastern Asian–eastern North American floristic disjunction. However, despite the small number of species, relationships within the genus have remained unclear and have not been elucidated using a molecular approach. Here, we integrate data from 48 nuclear genes, fossils, morphology, and ecological niche to resolve species relationships, elucidate its biogeographical history, and investigate the evolution of morphology and ecological niches, aiming at a better understanding of the well‐known EA–ENA floristic disjunction. Results showed that the Central American (CAM) Nyssa talamancana was sister to the remaining species, which were divided among three, rapidly diversified subclades. Estimated divergence times and biogeographical history suggested that Nyssa had an ancestral range in Eurasia and western North America in the late Paleocene. The rapid diversification occurred in the early Eocene, followed by multiple dispersals between and within the Erasian and North American continents. The genus experienced two major episodes of extinction in the early Oligocene and end of Neogene, respectively. The Central American N. talamancana represents a relic lineage of the boreotropical flora in the Paleocene/Eocene boundary that once diversified in western North America. The results supported the importance of both the North Atlantic land bridge and the Bering land bridge (BLB) for the Paleogene dispersals of Nyssa and the Neogene dispersals, respectively, as well as the role of Central America as refugia of the Paleogene flora. The total‐evidence‐based dated phylogeny suggested that the pattern of macroevolution of Nyssa coincided with paleoclimatic changes. We found a number of evolutionary changes in morphology (including wood anatomy and leaf traits) and ecological niches (precipitation and temperature) between the EA–ENA disjunct, supporting the ecological selection driving trait evolutions after geographic isolation. We also demonstrated challenges in phylogenomic studies of lineages with rapid diversification histories. The concatenation of gene data can lead to inference of strongly supported relationships incongruent with the species tree. However, conflicts in gene genealogies did not seem to impose a strong effect on divergence time dating in our case. Furthermore, we demonstrated that rapid diversification events may not be recovered in the divergence time dating analysis using BEAST if critical fossil constraints of the relevant nodes are not available. Our study provides an example of complex bidirectional exchanges of plants between Eurasia and North America in the Paleogene, but “out of Asia” migrations in the Neogene, to explain the present disjunct distribution of Nyssa in EA and ENA.     

木兰科（Magnoliaceae）的起源、进化和地理分布

木兰科为亚洲－美洲间断分布科,全世界有１５属,２４６种,主要分布于亚洲东南部的热带、亚热带地区,从喜马拉雅至日本,向南达新几内亚及新不列颠;少数种类分布于北美东南部、中美至南美巴西．中国有１１属,约９９种．木兰科的现代分布中心在东亚－东南亚地区．根据木兰科的化石记录、系统发育和现代分布,推测其起源时间为早白垩纪,甚至更早．起源地可能在中国的西南地区,并由此向外辐射,向东经日本、俄罗斯远东地区经白令陆桥进入北美;向西经西亚、欧洲,通过格陵兰进入北美,然后到达南美;向南经印度支那、马来西亚,直至新几内亚．东亚－北美间断分布的形成是受第四纪冰期的影响;南美的木兰科是从北美迁移而来．     

木兰科（Magnoliaceae）的起源、进化和地理分布

木兰科为亚洲－美洲间断分布科,全世界有１５属,２４６种,主要分布于亚洲东南部的热带、亚热带地区,从喜马拉雅至日本,向南达新几内亚及新不列颠;少数种类分布于北美东南部、中美至南美巴西．中国有１１属,约９９种．木兰科的现代分布中心在东亚－东南亚地区．根据木兰科的化石记录、系统发育和现代分布,推测其起源时间为早白垩纪,甚至更早．起源地可能在中国的西南地区,并由此向外辐射,向东经日本、俄罗斯远东地区经白令陆桥进入北美;向西经西亚、欧洲,通过格陵兰进入北美,然后到达南美;向南经印度支那、马来西亚,直至新几内亚．东亚－北美间断分布的形成是受第四纪冰期的影响;南美的木兰科是从北美迁移而来．     

Phylogeny and Phytogeography of Eupatorium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae): Insights from Sequence Data of the nrDNA ITS Regions and cpDNA RFLP

Eupatorium were examined by sequencing the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and restriction site analysis of chloroplast DNA. Molecular data provided strong evidence that (1) this genus originated in North America, (2) the genus diverged into three morphological species groups, Eutrochium, Traganthes and Uncasia in North America, and (3) one of the North American Uncasia lineages migrated into temperate Europe and eastern Asia over the Bering land bridge. The estimated divergence times support a late Miocene to early Pliocene migration from North America to Eurasia via the Bering land bridge. A European species was sister to all of the eastern Asian species examined. The disjunct distribution pattern of the genus Eupatorium is incongruent with the classical Arcto-Tertiary geoflora concept. Received 13 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 4 January 2000     

New fossil fruits of Carya (Juglandaceae) from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene in Tennessee,eastern United States

Fossil fruits including nuts and associated husk valves of a new species of Carya (Juglandaceae) are described from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene in northeastern Tennessee, eastern United States. The husk valves are elliptic, 1.2–4.5 mm thick, with a convex exterior face and a concave interior face; the nuts are globose to ovoid in shape, smooth and longitudinally ribbed on exterior surface, with a short protruding apex and a slightly 4-angled base; inner ribs, lacunae and primary septa are well-developed, while secondary septa are absent or weakly developed. The combination of these carpological characteristics clearly shows a close resemblance to the genus Carya in Juglandaceae. Detailed comparisons of carpological morphology and anatomy indicate that the present fossil taxon is different from both living and most other fossil species of the genus, and therefore warrants the designation of a new fossil species, Carya tennesseensis Huang et al., sp. nov. Carya tennesseensis displays a carpological similarity to C. ventricosa from the late Oligocene to early Pliocene in Europe, suggesting a potential species exchange of the genus between Europe and southeastern North America during the late Neogene. The new fossil species represents one of the few fruit fossil species of Carya from its modern distribution range in southeastern North America. It provides crucial information for better understanding the rapid diversification of the genus from the late Miocene to early Pliocene, and the origin and establishment of today's Carya biodiversity in this region.     

狗鱼(Esox,Teleostei)化石在中国的首次发现

记述了山东龙口黄县洼里煤矿早始新世黄县组二段油页岩中的鱼化石。该鱼身体狭长,背鳍位置靠后;额骨侧面有长形的、狗鱼所特有的副筛骨;额骨甚长;顶骨相对来说甚短;口裂较长;齿骨、前上颌骨及颚部许多骨片均生有扁而尖的牙齿,但上颌骨口缘光滑;外翼骨甚粗壮;鳃盖骨略呈长方形;前鳃盖骨较直,中部略收缩,上、下枝夹角大(约为１３０°);匙骨纵枝短而水平枝长大。困此属于狗鱼科中惟一的狗鱼属是毫无疑问的。根据其头长与体长之比、额骨及顶骨的形状和比例以及背鳍条数目与狗鱼属其他种的不同,我们将它订为一个新种——龙口狗鱼。黄县的化石是狗鱼渐新世以前在北美以外地区的首次发现,也是狗鱼化石在亚洲的首次发现。黄县位于北纬３７°７′,远较现生狗鱼在亚洲分布的地区(４３°和４６°以北)靠南。而始新世全球气候偏暖,巨南北温差较小,始新世狗鱼或较现生种类更适应较温暖的气候。早始新世狗鱼在中国的发现为当时跨太平洋鱼类区系的存在提供了进一步的证据。     

Evolutionary trends in leaf morphology and biogeography of Altingiaceae based on fossil evidence

The extant woody family Altingiaceae, consisting of only one genus Liquidambar L. with ca. 15 species, demonstrates a typical disjunctive distribution among East Asia, North America, and the Mediterranean. However, the fossil record throughout the Cenozoic indicates that Altingiaceae was once widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. After studying the abundant Altingiaceae fossil leaf collections, we revised the easily-confused fossil leaves and corrected the misidentifications. Consequently, we proposed an evolutionary history of Altingiaceae leaf morphology in consulting the modern leaf characteristics. It is revealed that the trilobated leaf morphology is the ancestral character state, whereas both the pentalobated and the undivided, pinnate-veined lineages evolved separately. The latter diverged from the trilobated ancestor in South China in Eocene. The lobed and undivided lineages represent the deciduous and evergreen, respectively. An extensive fossil database of Altingiaceae was built to reconstruct its biogeographical history. We reconfirmed that Altingiaceae developed into a temperate and a subtropical-tropical patterns and migrated across both the Bering and North Atlantic land bridges since Cretaceous, independently. It was widespread in the early Neogene of North America and Eurasia, and became extinct in the high latitude triggered by the global cooling and aridification. The modern disjunctive distribution was finally formed, with southeast Asia as its modern diversity center. This study provides new fossil evidence for understanding the morphology and biogeography of the family Altingiaceae.     

First fossil record of the genus Nageia (Podocarpaceae) in south China and its phytogeographic implications

The first fossil record of the genus Nageia Gaertner from the Tertiary of southern China is reported. Nageia hainanensis sp. nov. is described from the Eocene Changchang Formation of Hainan Island. The extant species of Nageia are widely distributed in southeastern Asia, from northeastern India to southeastern China and southern Japan, and southward through Indochina to the Malay Archipelago and New Guinea. The fossil evidence of Nageia has been discovered from the Lower Cretaceous of the Far East of Russia and Japan. The distribution of both modern and fossil species of Nageia indicates that this genus could have originated in the northeastern part of Asia in the Early Cretaceous and spread to south China at least in the Eocene. Discovery of Nageia fossil record in south China provides important evidence for the geological and phytogeographic history of the genus.     

Paleogene fossil fruits of Stephania (Menispermaceae) from North America and East Asia

Stephania Loureiro is a large genus within Menispermaceae, with approximately 60 extant species naturally distributed in tropical to subtropical areas in Asia and Africa, and a few in Oceania. This genus possesses highly characteristic endocarps that facilitate identification of extant and fossil specimens. Here, we report some well-preserved fossil fruits of Stephania from North America and East Asia. The specimens indicate the endocarps were bony or woody with an obovate to obovate-rotund outline and a horseshoe-shaped locule. The endocarp length varies from 4.7 to 8.3 mm, and width from 3.7 to 7.0 mm. The endocarp has a clear foramen in the central area and is surrounded by a keel with ribs running along the dorsal surface. Only one lateral crest develops on each side of the endocarp. Two new species are recognized: Stephania wilfii Han & Manchester sp. nov. from the Paleocene to Eocene of Wyoming (USA), and Stephania jacquesii Han & Manchester sp. nov. disjunct between the late Eocene of Oregon (USA) and the late Oligocene of Guangxi Province (China). In addition, on the basis of more detailed morphological comparative analyses, we transfer the fossils formerly treated as Diploclisia auriformis (Hollick) Manchester from the early Eocene of London Clay, and the middle Eocene of Alaska and Oregon to Stephania auriformis (Hollick) Han & Manchester comb. nov. These fossil materials indicate a broader biogeographic distribution for the ancestors of extant Stephania lineages. This finding enhances our knowledge of the taxonomic and morphological diversity of Stephania and provides new evidence concerning its phytogeographic history.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Alyssum (Brassicaceae) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences

The genus Alyssum consists of about 195 species native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa. All species were assigned to six sections. Previous molecular phylogeny studies indicate that Alyssum is polyphyletic. However, the divergence time and dispersal of the genus are not well studied. In this study, the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Alyssum were studied with nrDNA ITS sequences obtained from five sections. The divergence time was estimated by fossil calibration and the biogeography was examined by spread analysis. The phylogeny indicated two main lineages: lineage 1 includes the section of Alyssum, Gamosepalum and Psilonema; lineage 2 includes the section of Odontarrhena, Meniocus and Clypeola. The phylogenetic relationship was not congruent with the previous sectional classifications. The age of Alyssum was dated to the upper Miocene. Molecular data suggested the diversification of Alyssum in Mediterranean areas and wide-ranging distribution such as North Africa, eastward into Central Asia and immigration into North America. Climatic aridification and arid/semiarid areas established in the Pliocene/Pleistocene could have provided favourable conditions for the migration and diversification of Alyssum.     

鹅观草属的几个新组合

本文报道了禾本科鹅观草属的三个种级新组合和四个变种级新组合。即大丛鹅观草Roegneria magnicaespis (D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai;新疆鹅观草Roegneria sinkiangensis(D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai;阿尔泰鹅观草Roegneria altaica(D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai;短芒鹅观草Roegneria glaberrima var.breviarista (D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai;林缘鹅观草Roegneria mutabilis var.nemoralis (D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai;多花鹅观草Roegneria abolinii var.pluriflora (D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai和曲芒鹅观草Roegneria tschimganica var.glabrispicula (D.F.Cui)L.B.Cai。     

粉条儿菜属(肺筋草科)的地理分布及其物种多样性和分化中心

粉条儿菜属(AletrisL.)隶属于肺筋草科,全世界有23种1变种,东亚有18种1变种,北美东南部有5种,为典型的东亚-北美间断分布的属.本文在种(变种)的水平上,研究了粉条儿菜属的地理分布及其分布中心和多样化中心,并对其起源和分化以及现代洲际间断分布格局的成因进行了分析.结果表明,(1)中国共分布有粉条儿菜属植物15种1变种,而广义的横断山地区集中分布有13种1变种,是东亚粉条儿菜属植物分布最为集中的地区,而且包含该属植物各个进化阶段的代表.因此,广义的横断山地区是粉条儿菜属在东亚的分布中心和多样化中心.(2)根据粉条儿菜属及其近缘属的分布格局推测,该属可能在不晚于第三纪早期,起源于古北大陆.东亚和北美的粉条儿菜属植物形态区别明显,应该是隔离分化的结果.(3)该属植物可能曾经广布于北半球,后来地质、气候以及冰川等因素的变化,导致该属在一些地区灭绝,而仅存于东亚和北美东南部.(4)尽管横断山及其周边地区是东亚粉条儿菜属的多样化中心,但该地区很可能并不是粉条儿菜属最早的分化中心,因横断山地区周边的一些特有种可能是在晚近的时期形成的新特有种;另外,东亚粉条儿菜属一些原始的种类主要分布于我国中东部到日本一带.所以,中国中东部到日本一带可能是粉条儿菜属早期的分化中心.